Pacho Alonso was a "masterful" bolerista (bolero-ballad singer) with a lot of jazz inflections in his style.

I know Pacho liked listening to Billy Eckstine and Johnny Hartman in the 1950's, 60's, I was told that when I lived in New Orleans in 1980 by two musicians that played in his band, both of them came to New Orleans via "the Mariel boat lift" in 1980.

The CD reissue of this LP is missing 2 boleros from the original 12 songs on the LP.

The original 'Discuba' LP cover below.The front and back cover of an E.P.With Ibrahim Ferrer in the yellow shirt, standing in front."A bailar con Pacho Alonso"1961 With Juanito Marquez on electric guitar.'Enrique Bonne' on Timbales, kickdrum.Enrique Bonne wrote 9 of the 12 songs.

The CD reissue is missing 2 songs from the original LP11 and 12 I added them from the original LP.

An obscure 1964 LP with a killer band,A version of the Pilón "El Bajo Cun Cun Cun", but here without Juanito Marquez who played electric guitar on the original version in 1960.And also a version of "Sorpresa De Harina Con Boniato", again here without Juanito Marquez who played on the original 1960 version.

Excellent recording with Vibrafono (Vibes) used in several songs.Nice photo of the band showing Enrique Bonne in dark "eyeglasses" and Ibrahim Ferrer.The "rhythms" written next to several of the songs on the back of the LP are not exactly correct.I've included a more accurate rhythmic interpretation below.

The same 1971 LP, but a pressing from Chile, with an excellent photo of the band, with Enrique Bonne in front right kneeling down, wearing "The Eyeglasses".Also in this photo, is a Tumbadora that had "two additional heads built into the sides" of the drum. "un invento" that I've only seen in one other photo of it on another LP by Pacho:.

Another photo of "the drum"."Ritmo a lo Pacho"1976Enrique Bonne on timbales

The LP says this is "Orq. Egrem" accompanying him, but that's incorrect, it's Pacho Alonso's band with his son, "Pachito" playing keyboards & arranging.Vinyl LP, 3 of the 4 tracks are a medleys of songs.(*LP incorrectly left out the titles of track #2)

Below are several Videos of 'Pacho Alonso' with his '60's "Bocucos" &'70's "Pachucos"with 'Enrique Bonne' playing Timbales along with 'Ibrahim Ferrer' singing coro & playing Guiro. 'Las D'Aia' singing coro.One of the first two Pilóns to be released on record by 'Pacho Alonso' was "José Ramon", the other was "El Bajo Cun Cun Cun".In the first video you can see the musician making believe he's grinding coffee in a giant "Pilón" which is where the dance got its name from.A "Pilón" is a 'mortar' and 'pestle' used to crush, grind, and mash ingredients, herbs and seasonings. They can be made of ceramic, metal, or traditionally wood.

Unfortunately everything on this "remastered/reissue" is at the wrong speed.

With additional materiel taken from the original 1964 Egrem LP and from several LP's that JuanitoMarquez played on with 'Pacho Alonso' y Los Bocucos.(includes "Billy The Kid", composed by 'Enrique Bonne')

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Welcome to Fidels Eyeglasses!

Cuban LP's and recordings which include particular "styles" and "forms" of (playing & singing) "Cuban" music that unfortunately have become, or are on their way to becoming lost art forms.As well as related materiel which may not be "directly" from Cuba.

Mostly LP's that are either long out of print and-or obscure and music from "my own personal collection".

Occasionally some Brasilian things will be added that are hard to find, even on the other great Brasilian blogs, many that are listed in my Blog links.And maybe some things that have nothing to do with Cuban or Brasilian music.

It takes time to do all this, scanning the covers, resizing and uploading, often changing & correcting the info.

****NOTE: DIVSHARE HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS WHICH MEANS MANY HUNDREDS OF SOUND FILES ON THIS BLOG WHICH TOOK 6 YEARS TO COMPILE ARE DEAD, SOME ARE STILL PLAYABLE, BUT UNTIL I FIND A NEW SOUND FILE HOST SERVICE, MANY WON'T PLAY.

About Me

Professional musician / percussionist.
Living, working and teaching in Manhattan, N.Y.C., U.S.A.
Born and raised in Manhattan, N.Y.C.
Lived in New Orleans from 1972 to 1986.
Produced and hosted the first Cuban music radio program in New Orleans on WWOZ from 1980-1986.
Been back in N.Y.C. 28 years and planing on getting the hell out very soon.